JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (News release) -- Rayonier Advanced Materials Inc., a pioneer in the production of fluff pulp, announced that it qualifies as an "Inspected Raw Material" by Nordic Swan Ecolabelling. The Nordic Swan Ecolabel sets strict environmental requirements in all phases of manufacturing, including requirements for eco-friendly chemicals used in ecolabeled products. The status will appear on products made with RYAM's fluff pulp and indicates to consumers and commercial buyers that the product is sustainably produced and environmentally friendly.

"The Nordic Swan Ecolabel exemplifies our commitment to sustainable and environmentally friendly manufacturing and is an important component of realizing RYAM's BioFuture," said Vito Consiglio, President and CEO of Rayonier Advanced Materials. "Increasingly, consumers expect that the products they buy be sourced with eco-friendly materials. The ecolabel will help consumers easily identify products made with our fluff pulp as green sustainably produced and environmentally friendly."

Rayonier Advanced Materials is a producer of fluff pulp and various other cellulose-based materials, many of which serve as alternatives to petroleum-based products. RYAM's operations create a market for sustainably sourced wood materials that in turn help to support over two million acres of working forests. These working forests play an essential role in contributing to clean air and water and providing critical wildlife habitat. As a result, our product has cost advantages for consumers and commercial buyers.

"It means a lot to our customers, sales, and marketing team for our fluff pulp to receive the 'Inspected Raw Material' status from Nordic Ecolabelling and is a culmination of over two years of effort," said Joshua Hicks, Senior Vice President, High Purity Cellulose of Rayonier Advanced Materials. "We are focused on achieving RYAM's BioFuture and becoming more sustainable while reducing our impact on the environment, and we are proud to have received this exceptional recognition."

In the United States, just a very small percentage of fluff pulp currently produced meets the Nordic Swan Ecolabel standard. Rayonier Advanced Materials has an annual capacity of 245,000 tons which are all eligible for Nordic Swan's "Inspected Raw Material" status. The status will make it easy for downstream consumers of absorbent hygiene products containing RYAM's fluff pulp, such as adult incontinence, baby diapers, and feminine hygiene products, to identify their products as sustainably produced.